Open carry 1911
For those of you that a full size 1911 would be better for open carry, any sugestions in the $500 or less range? I have never carried a gun on my hip for long pierods of time. So I don't know if there are serting things I need to look for or not. I imagin I would want fixed sights for a holster.
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Under $500 your best bang for the buck would be a Rock Island "tactical" model - already has lots of the popular mods done to it 0 -
Good holster and more importantly a GOOD belt will make a ton of difference carrying a gun of this weight.
I carried a full size Glock for a long time and mainly carry a M&P compact right now. I do carry my 1911 around when I am out working around my property. It always shocks me how much heavier this gun is and how short of a time it takes me to notice the extra weight vs carrying my M&P all day long and not thinking twice.
They are a great gun and after carrying it for a while you will become use to the weight being there.0 -
the para GI expert is right at $500. i was very impressed with the build quality and "feel" of the gun. 0 -
Frontiersman101...in my experience, CC or open carry of a 1911 is like walking around with a boat anchor strapped to your hip, at least for any extended periods of time. I have tried a variety of different holsters over the years (crossdraw ended up being the most comfortable for me) but none can cut down the weight. I have also carried it in a Jackass shoulder holster but after a short time the straps start to cut into my shoulder. I never got used to the weight and I finally gave up after years of lugging the beast around and went to a Glock 36...much less weight but still the powerful .45. Interestingly, the Glock 36 is in your $500 price range. In my area sometimes one can find a used 1991 Colt in the $500 or so price range. Don't get me wrong...I love my 1911 as it one of the rare bb models and is a tack driver to shoot with its Bomar's and all, but just too heavy for this old WV guy in his later years! Good shooting! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Nwcid
Good holster and more importantly a GOOD belt will make a ton of difference carrying a gun of this weight.
I carried a full size Glock for a long time and mainly carry a M&P compact right now. I do carry my 1911 around when I am out working around my property. It always shocks me how much heavier this gun is and how short of a time it takes me to notice the extra weight vs carrying my M&P all day long and not thinking twice.
They are a great gun and after carrying it for a while you will become use to the weight being there.
Nwcid, how do you like your M&P as an all around gun? Do you cary it mostly because of weight? Also what caliber is yours in? Im not a big fan of the plastic/polymer pistols, but this one in a .45 or .40 S&W looks nice. I have always been impressed with S&W but have never shot their autos.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Frontiersman101
Nwcid, how do you like your M&P as an all around gun? Do you cary it mostly because of weight? Also what caliber is yours in? Im not a big fan of the plastic/polymer pistols, but this one in a .45 or .40 S&W looks nice. I have always been impressed with S&W but have never shot their autos.
I will start by saying I HATE compact guns. I dont care if it is Glock, Sig, HK, 1911, ect. The reason I dont like them is they dont fit me AND you get shorter sight radius, less grip to hold, less round count and overall are usually not really that much smaller then the full size versions.
Now with that said I love my M&Pc (it is a compact) and I got it in 9mm. I know the many debates between calibers and I have carried just about everything from .380-.45 at some point. I went with 9mm because it is a bit cheeper, I get a couple extra rounds in a compact, less recoil in a small gun, and with the animals I have had to dispatch with 9mm in the past I do not feel under gunned with it. I have almost as much .40 ammo on hand as I do 9mm so cost was not really a huge issue for me.
I was in the gun store looking for a CCW for a friend and the owner says try this (handing me the M&P). I said I would pass as we were looking for a small revolver "85" style. He told me to just hold it for a min. Well I did and the thing felt great in my hand. I put it back, looked at it again a couple days later after doing a lot of reading about it. Then called him and told him to hold it.
This gun feels like it has less recoil then my G17 or G34 and I like shooting both. I am very accurate with it which is very important for a CCW gun. I will get bashed for this but internally it works the same way as a Glock. I have about 800rds down range with it and have been very happy.
For the past several years I had been carrying a G35 (.40) during months when it was jacket weather. In the warmer months it was a Keltec 3AT in the front pocket. Since getting this gun I dont think I have carried my G35 and the 3AT only a few times. I got an IWB Comp-tac holster for this gun and can easily carry it concealed in a T-shirt and shorts. Again I have been very happy.
If you are looking for a CCW here are some key things to think about (all of them are listed above if you read).
1. Get a gun that feels good to you and you can operate all the controls. I would have to work on seriously relearning shooting before truly carrying a 1911 since it has been along time since I carried a gun with an "external" safety.
2. Make sure you get one that is right for what your situation is. If you live in FL, or somewhere else hot if you are trying to conceal (I know you said open) a full size gun can be a challenge.
3. Weight and size are an issue. If the gun is too big, too heavy, too uncomfortable, or too whatever and it gets left laying on the desk, in the glovebox, under the seat, in your gun bag, ect then it does you no good for protection. Get a gun of a weight and size you WILL carry and have on you.
Hope that helps.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Nwcid
quote:Originally posted by Frontiersman101
Nwcid, how do you like your M&P as an all around gun? Do you cary it mostly because of weight? Also what caliber is yours in? Im not a big fan of the plastic/polymer pistols, but this one in a .45 or .40 S&W looks nice. I have always been impressed with S&W but have never shot their autos.
I will start by saying I HATE compact guns. I dont care if it is Glock, Sig, HK, 1911, ect. The reason I dont like them is they dont fit me AND you get shorter sight radius, less grip to hold, less round count and overall are usually not really that much smaller then the full size versions.
Now with that said I love my M&Pc (it is a compact) and I got it in 9mm. I know the many debates between calibers and I have carried just about everything from .380-.45 at some point. I went with 9mm because it is a bit cheeper, I get a couple extra rounds in a compact, less recoil in a small gun, and with the animals I have had to dispatch with 9mm in the past I do not feel under gunned with it. I have almost as much .40 ammo on hand as I do 9mm so cost was not really a huge issue for me.
I was in the gun store looking for a CCW for a friend and the owner says try this (handing me the M&P). I said I would pass as we were looking for a small revolver "85" style. He told me to just hold it for a min. Well I did and the thing felt great in my hand. I put it back, looked at it again a couple days later after doing a lot of reading about it. Then called him and told him to hold it.
This gun feels like it has less recoil then my G17 or G34 and I like shooting both. I am very accurate with it which is very important for a CCW gun. I will get bashed for this but internally it works the same way as a Glock. I have about 800rds down range with it and have been very happy.
For the past several years I had been carrying a G35 (.40) during months when it was jacket weather. In the warmer months it was a Keltec 3AT in the front pocket. Since getting this gun I dont think I have carried my G35 and the 3AT only a few times. I got an IWB Comp-tac holster for this gun and can easily carry it concealed in a T-shirt and shorts. Again I have been very happy.
If you are looking for a CCW here are some key things to think about (all of them are listed above if you read).
1. Get a gun that feels good to you and you can operate all the controls. I would have to work on seriously relearning shooting before truly carrying a 1911 since it has been along time since I carried a gun with an "external" safety.
2. Make sure you get one that is right for what your situation is. If you live in FL, or somewhere else hot if you are trying to conceal (I know you said open) a full size gun can be a challenge.
3. Weight and size are an issue. If the gun is too big, too heavy, too uncomfortable, or too whatever and it gets left laying on the desk, in the glovebox, under the seat, in your gun bag, ect then it does you no good for protection. Get a gun of a weight and size you WILL carry and have on you.
Hope that helps.
Yes it helps. Thank you. I am looking for open carry only because I am not yet old enough to get a CCW here in AZ. It would be wise to get something that I could use for a CCW in the future, insted of buying a whole new gun. I know some people with 1911s and other type of pistols I can try out. I will try and carry some of them and see how it feals before making any final decisions. Thanks again.0 -
I have a Firestorm 1911 that shoots wonderfully.I understand that the Firestorm,Rock Island and the Charles Daly are all made in the same plant in the Phillipines. I got mine at a show for $425. I removed the wooden grips so as to not get them scarred up and installed a set of hogue rubber ones. I carry it regularly in a mikes holster with no problems. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Frontiersman101
I am looking for open carry only because I am not yet old enough to get a CCW here in AZ. It would be wise to get something that I could use for a CCW in the future, insted of buying a whole new gun.
Ah. . .why didn't you say so?
I agree with the several other posters here that I personally can't get away with carrying a "real" (full sized steel) 1911 concealed all day. All the more power to those who can, but I'm just not one of them.
The thing literally weighs 2.5 pounds. . .that's half the weight of a standard construction brick, and its not particularly small.
For use as a service-type gun (ie open carry for military/police/security use) on a proper belt holster, a 1911 really is a pretty good choice. Again, key is a good holster/belt combination.
If you are looking at a compact-type gun for LATER concealed carry, there are a gazillion to choose from in the $500 price range. . .way to many to go over quickly in a post like this.
Just figure if you like the way the gun operates and feels in your hand, and its reliable, and you can actually carry it concealed, then its a good choice for concealed carry.
I think people get WAY too hung up on brands and calibers (in part because there are so many choices available).
Any caliber of .380 or above *COULD* work, so long as you MAKE it work.
Any gun that goes "bang" every time you pull the trigger could work, so long as you MAKE it work.
The biggest issues, again, are making sure you can actually conceal the gun during your day-to-day activities, and shooting enough to achieve and then maintain proficiency shooting the gun in question.0 -
I shot a pretty nice Rock Island compact 1911 the other day and it seemed like good value. My buddy paid 389.00 for it brand new and it shot pretty good. Let's just put it this way: I wouldn't pay 200-500 dollars more for a pistol of the same size that shot slightly better... 0
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